Lemon slice squeezer



May 19, 1964 J. F. PERRIN 3, 3

LEMON SLICE SQUEEZER Filed Oct. 25, 1962 INVENTOR CC Joe F. Perrin ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent "ice 3,133,493 LEMON SLICE SQUEEZER Joe F. Perrin, 219 E. 3rd St., Taylor, Tex. Filed Oct. 25, 1952, Ser. No. 233,059 7 Claims. (4')]. 100-211) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in squeezers for slices of lemon and the like.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved squeezer for slices of lemon and the like which is of such construction that a slice may be held and squeezed by the fingers without contact therewith and without squirting of the juice laterally of its intended point of application.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved lemon slice squeezer having a medial section for overlying the arcuate or curved exterior of a slice to permit manual holding and squeezing of the slice from end to end and lateral sections hinged to the medial section for overlying and shielding the sides of the slice to pre vent lateral squirting of the juice and permit squeezing from side to side without the slice and its juice contacting the fingers of the user.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved squeezer, of the character described, which is formed of inexpensive flexible material and which is of sufficient area to substantially cover the rind and sides of a sector-shaped slice, the medial section of the squeezer having its end portions separated from the lateral sections and reduced in width whereby the end portions of said medial section may be flexed toward each other between said lateral sections so as to conform to the contour of the rind and said lateral sections may be flexed toward each other into engagement with the sides of theslice without interference from said medial section.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described, together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a squeezer constructed in accordance with the invention,

FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the squeezer,

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view of the squeezer enclosing a sector-shaped slice shown in broken lines,

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the squeezer in flattened condition,

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the squeezer positioned on the slice prior to flexing of the medial section of said squeezer, the end portions of said medial section being shown partially flexed in broken lines, and

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal, sectional view, taken on the line 66 of FIG. 3, showing the medial section flexed into engagement with the rind of the slice, the fingers of the user being shown in broken lines.

In the drawing, the numeral 10 designates a squeezer for slices of lemon and the like and formed of paper, plastics, metal foil or other inexpensive, flexible sheet materal adapted to be discarded after use. As shown most clearly in FIG. 4, the squeezer is of generally rectangular shape and of greater length than width. An oblong, inner or medial holder panel or section 11 and a pair of outer or lateral shield panels or sections 12, of elongate rectangular shape, extend longitudinally of the squeezer in parallel alinement. Preferably, all of the sections are of equal length, which length is much greater than the width of said sections, and the outer or lateral sections are identical. The central portions of the adjacent longitudinal margins of the sections ll and 12 are connected by a pair of parallel hinge lines 13 to permit inward folding of the lateral sections toward each other rela- 3,133,493 Patented May 19, 1964 tive to the medial sections (FIGS. l3). Longitudinal cut lines 14 extend from the ends of the hinge lines 13 in alinement therewith to separate the end portions 15 of the medial section 11 from the lateral sections. At the junctures of the lines 13 and 14, transverse hinge lines 16 connect the end portions 15 to the center portion of the medial section to permit relative, inward folding of said end portions toward each other between the lateral sections. The end portions of the medial section 11 have longitudinal margins 17 which converge outwardly from the outer ends of the cut lines 14 so as to be spaced from the adjacent margins of the lateral sections 12 and permit convergence of said lateral sections upon inward folding thereof. It is noted that the end portions are of much greater length than the center portions of the medial section.

In use, the squeezer 10 is placed over a sector-shaped slice S of a lemon or the like with the center portion of its medial section 11 overlying the center portion of the rind of the slice (FIG. 5). Then, the lateral sections 12 may be folded inwardly toward each other into engagement with the sides of the slice so as to clamp or wedge said slice therebetween by applying a slight pressure with the first and third fingers. Next, the end portions 15 of the medial section are flexed inwardly toward each other between the lateral sections into engagement with the end portions of the rind of the slice by the thumb and second finger, as shown by the broken lines 18 in FIG. 6, whereby the continued application of pressure squeezes the slice from end to end. Simultaneously, force may be exerted against the lateral sections by the first and third fingers to prevent displacement of the slice as well as to squeeze the same from side to side. It is noted that he medial section, particularly its end portions, conforms substantially to the arcuate or curved contour of the rind of the slice. Also, due to the outward convergence of their longitudinal margins 17, the inwardly, flexed end portions do not interfere with inward flexing of the lateral sections into engagement with the sides of the slice. Usually, the extremities of the inwardly-flexed end portions 15 project below the lower margins of the lateral sections (FIG. 6) since said end portions are of a length greater than the width of said lateral section.

Although this mode of use is preferred, if desired, the end portions 15 of the medial section 11 may be flexed inwardly by means of the first finger and thumb. Preferably, the material of the squeezer has sutficient rigidity to maintain the lateral sections 12 in angular relation to the medial section after folding on the longitudinal hinge lines 13. Due to the flexibility of the material and the transverse hinge lines 16, the end portions of the medial section may be utilized to grip and hold the slice therebetween. Even though spaced from the slice, the angularly-disposed lateral sections are adjacent and shield the sides of said slice to prevent the lateral squirting of juice. As shown in FIG. 6, the ends of the lateral sections project beyond the inwardly-flexed end portions of the medial section to further shield the slice and prevent undesired spraying of the juice. Irrespective of which mode of use is employed, the juice of the slice as well as the oil of the rind are confined against contact with the fingers. Although shown and described for use with sector-shaped slices, it is readily apparent that the squeezer is capable of use with semi-circular slices as well as with the halves of small citrus fruit, such as limes. It is pointed out that the singularly-disposed lateral sections 12 provide supports for the squeezer prior to inward flexing of the end portions 15 of the medial section 11 and may be utilized to display advertising.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory thereof and various changes in the size, shape and materials, as well as in th details of the illustrated construction may be made, Within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A squeezer for slices of lemon and the like including a sheet of flexible material having a trio of oblong sections in side by sid relationship, longitudinal hinge connections between the central portions of the adjacent longitudinal margins of the sections to permit folding of the outer sections inwardly toward each other relative to the inner section for overlying and shielding the sides of a slice when said inner section is in overlying relation to the exterior of the slice, said inner section having end portions separated and spaced from the adjacent longitudinal margins of said outer sections to permit flexing of the end portions inwardly toward each other between said inwardly-folded outer sections into engagement with the exterior of the slice for manual squeezing of the slice from end to end.

2. A squeezer as set forth in claim 1 wherein the end portions of the inner section are of reduced width so as to be separated and spaced from the adjacent longitudinal margins of the outer sections and prevent interference between the inwardly-flexed end portions and the inwardly-folded outer sections.

3. A squeezer as set forth in claim 1 wherein the longitudinal margins of each end portion of the inner section converge outwardly so as to be separated and spaced from the adjacent longitudinal margins of the outer sections and permit convergence of said outer sections upon inward folding thereof into engagement with the sides of the slice whereby the slice may be squeezed from side to side.

4. A squeezer as set forth in claim 1 including transverse hinge connections between the center and end portions of the inner section to facilitate inward flexing of the end portions.

5. A squeezer for-slices of lemon and the like including a sheet of flexible materail having a pair of oblong lateral panels with an oblong medial panel therebetween, the

panels being of substantially equal length and in parallel alinement, said panels being hingedly connected at the central portions of their adjacent longitudinal margins whereby the lateral panels are adapted to be folded inwardly toward each other relative to the medial panel into overlying and shielding relation to the sides of a slice when said medial panel is in overlying relation to the rind of the slice, said medial panel having end portions of reduced width separated and spaced from the adjacent longitudinal margins of said lateral panels whereby the end portions are adapted to be flexed inwardly toward each other between said inwardly-folded lateral panels into substantially conforming engagement with the rind of the slice so as to substantially cover the rind and permit manual squeezing of the slice from end to end without interference between said inwardly-flexed end portions and inwardly folded lateral panels.

6. A squeezer as set forth in claim 5 wherein the longitudinal margins of each end portion of the medial panel converge outwardly so as to permit convergence of the lateral panels upon inward folding thereof into engagement with the sides of the slice whereby the slice may be squeezed from side to side.

7. A squeezer as set forth in claim 6 wherein the end portions of the medial panel are of a length greater than the width of the lateral panels and are hingedly connected to the center portion of said medial panel so as to facilitate inward flexing thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,836,062 Biegeleisen Dec. 15, 1931 1,858,435 Conlon May 17, 1932 2,220,458 Osterman Nov. 5, 1940 2,235,909 Wald Mar. 25, 1941 2,688,914 Eckler Sept. 14, 1954 2,707,912 Squarcio May 10, 1955 

1. A SQUEEZER FOR SLICES OF LEMON AND THE LIKE INCLUDING A SHEET OF FLEXIBLE MATERIAL HAVING A TRIO OF OBLONG SECTIONS IN SIDE BY SIDE RELATIONSHIP, LONGITUDINAL HINGE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE CENTRAL PORTIONS OF THE ADJACENT LONGITUDINAL MARGINS OF THE SECTIONS TO PERMIT FOLDING OF THE OUTER SECTIONS INWARDLY TOWARD EACH OTHER RELATIVE TO THE INNER SECTION FOR OVERLYING AND SHIELDING THE SIDES OF A SLICE WHEN SAID INNER SECTION IS IN OVERLYING RELATION TO THE EXTERIOR OF THE SLICE, SAID INNER SECTION HAVING END PORTIONS SEPARATED AND SPACED FROM THE ADJACENT LONGI- 